1) Education. Seeks to inform seekers as to what is happening between Palestinians and Israelis, issues and personalities and positions
2) Advocacy. Urges seekers to share information with their world, advocate with political figures, locally, regionally, nationally
3) Action. Uges support of those institutions, agencies, persons and entities who are working toward addressing the problems, working toward reconciliation and shalom/salaam/peace.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

On 11 and 12 August, fifteen young Israelis and many of their parents joinedPalestinian children from the Tuwani area in summer camp activities. Tuwanicommunity members collaborated with the Israeli peace organization Ta'ayushand a non-profit organization called Prelude to make the summer camppossible

The Israeli visitors were mainly students and teachers from a bilingualschool in Jerusalem. Upon entering the Tuwani schoolyard, an arc ofcheering, chanting Palestinian children, clad in summer camp T-shirts andcaps, welcomed them. After shaking hands and listening to brief welcomerecitations from their hosts, the guests filed into classrooms for morningactivities that included musical games and art projects. Later, Tuwanichildren hosted a tour of the village aiming to teach their Jerusalemfriends about life in the rural Palestinian setting. The Israeli youngstersobserved and participated in pulling water from the well, milking goats andsheep, and riding a donkey before enjoying a meal prepared by local women.A separate outing to the nearby village of Mufakara took place the followingday. A Palestinian cave-dwelling family received the Palestinians andIsraelis as guests for tea and conversation. The hosts responded toquestions from Israeli visitors about the challenges of living near twoIsraeli settler outposts.

In a closing finale of the two-day exchange, all children joined forces in apainting project that resulted in a vibrant mural hemming the exterior wallof Tuwani's school.

Parents and teachers of the Israeli summer campers were equally involved inthe tours and activities. Some voiced concerns that the topics of settlerviolence and other realities of the Israeli occupation could overburden theyoung visitors. But all agreed that the visit reinforced the importance oflearning about Palestinian culture and building relationships with theircounterparts on the other side of the Green Line.

One Tuwani summer camp organizer commented on the significance of the visit:"This is really something never done before in this whole area. We'rehoping that the people who came will tell their friends, and next year wecan have fifty children from Israel visiting us." He also expressedinterest in offering overnight home stays for next year's guests. "By doingthis we're saying we have faith in the future, because the children -- fromboth sides -- are our future."

Click on the following link for a slideshow from the Tuwani summer campactivities:http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhough/sets/72157601697599442/show/______________Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church inorganized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trainedpeacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reductioninitiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethrenand Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range ofChristian denominations.

To ask questions or express concerns, criticisms and affirmations sendmessages to peacemakers@cpt.org.